Array of mutually insulated Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, and corresponding manufacturing process

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of an array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, wherein each photodiode is formed by a body of semiconductor material, having a first conductivity type, housing a first cathode region, of the second conductivity type, and facing a surface of the body, an anode region, having the first conductivity type and a higher doping level than the body, extending inside the body, and facing the surface laterally to the first cathode region and at a distance therefrom, and an insulation region extending through the body and insulating an active area from the rest of the body, the active area housing the first cathode region and the anode region. The insulation region is formed by a mirror region of metal material, a channel-stopper region having the second conductivity type, surrounding the mirror region, and a coating region, of dielectric material, arranged between the mirror region and the channel-stopper region.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is related to the U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/356,445 entitled ARRAY OF MUTUALLY ISOLATED, GEIGER-MODE, AVALANCHEPHOTODIODES AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF filed Jan. 20, 2009 andwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety. The present application isalso related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/637,628, entitledGEIGER-MODE PHOTODIODE WITH INTEGRATED AND ADJUSTABLE QUENCHINGRESISTOR, PHOTODIODE ARRAY, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF filed Dec.14, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/764,888, entitledGEIGER-MODE PHOTODIODE WITH INTEGRATED AND JFET-EFFECT-ADJUSTABLEQUENCHING RESISTOR, PHOTODIODE ARRAY, AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURINGMETHOD filed Apr. 21, 2010; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/070,876, entitled GEIGER-MODE AVALANCHE PHOTODIODE WITH HIGHSIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO, AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURING PROCESS filedMar. 24, 2011.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims the benefit of Italian Patent ApplicationSerial No.: TO2008A000045, filed Jan. 18, 2008, which application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An embodiment relates to an array of mutually insulated Geiger-modeavalanche photodiodes, and to the corresponding manufacturing process.

BACKGROUND

In the technical field of photon detection, the counting and detectionof individual photons is assuming an ever-increasing importance.

In molecular biology, for example, the detection of molecules isperformed using fluorescence or luminescence phenomena, frequentlycharacterized by extremely reduced light emission.

Extremely sensitive sensors are moreover required in the digital captureof three-dimensional images in reduced lighting conditions.

To this end, Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes find a wide range of usesin so far as their high quantum efficiency allows detection of bothindividual photons and packets of photons.

Unlike a PN-junction photodiode, a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodeoperates at a reverse biasing voltage that is higher than the breakdownvoltage.

The sensitivity to incident photons and, hence, the likelihood ofdetection depend upon the reverse biasing voltage of the photodiode. Inparticular, the greater the reverse biasing voltage, beyond thebreakdown threshold, the greater the likelihood of an avalanchegeneration of charge carriers occurring.

In this condition and in the absence of incident photons, an individualcharge carrier generated in conditions of darkness, for example bytransfer of thermal energy, is sufficient to trigger the process ofavalanche carrier generation by impact ionization, generating a flow ofcurrent referred to as “dark current”.

The dark current is an undesirable effect in this type of devices in sofar as it generates an electrical signal even in the absence of incidentphotons and may adversely interfere with the normal use of the device.

In addition, Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes belonging to an array ofphotodiodes are extremely sensitive not only to the photons that impingethereon, but also to charge carriers (for example, electrons) generatedby the adjacent photodiodes sharing the same substrate and to photonsgenerated by electroluminescence during the avalanche multiplication inadjacent photodiodes. These effects are known, respectively, as“electrical cross-talk” and “optical cross-talk”.

In order to exploit fully the sensitivity of the Geiger photodiode fordetection of individual photons and to reduce the negative effect ofelectrical and optical cross-talk, the active regions of saidphotodiodes are typically made such that the crystal lattice has anextremely small number of defects. In this condition, a carriergenerated in dark conditions statistically traverses a long mean freepath before generating an avalanche effect through an impact-ionizationmechanism.

The above solution does not, however, reduce the sensitivity of thearray. In fact, in the time interval corresponding to the free path,which is relatively long, of a charge carrier, an incident photon maygenerate an electron-hole pair, which triggers the process of avalanchegeneration, thus causing a flow of current associated with the incidentphoton, which enables detection thereof.

Since the process of avalanche generation is self-sustaining, it ismoreover necessary to implement a circuit for quenching the avalancheeffect and resetting the photodiode so as to render it available fordetection of a further photon. Currently known quenching circuits are oftwo types: active ones and passive ones.

In the passive-quenching mode, a resistor having a high resistance isset in series to the photodiode. A photon impinging upon the photodiodedetermines an increase of current in the photodiode and in theseries-connected resistor, causing a voltage drop that reduces theelectrical field that sustains the avalanche carrier generation to avalue lower than that of the breakdown voltage. Consequently, theavalanche carrier generation is interrupted.

In the active-quenching mode, a purposely designed external circuitdetects the increase of current caused by an impinging photon andreduces the voltage on the photodiode below the breakdown thresholdusing a switch that couples the photodiode to a resistor having a highresistance and operating analogously to the described passive mode. Inboth the passive and the active modes, at the end of thephotodiode-current resetting, the reverse voltage applied thereto againreaches a high value, higher than the breakdown voltage.

Getting back to the problem of optical and/or electrical cross-talk,some solutions have been proposed.

According to a first solution proposed for the reduction of opticalcross-talk, each photodiode is insulated from adjacent photodiodes bymetal trenches having the function of mirroring the photons responsiblefor optical cross-talk; this solution is typically ineffective asregards electrical cross-talk.

According to a second solution, aimed at eliminating both optical andelectrical cross-talk, each photodiode will be insulated from theadjacent photodiodes by V-shaped grooves. This approach, however,drastically reduces the possibility of high integration of thecomponents on account of the considerable area occupied by the V-shapedgrooves.

According to a third solution, which is also suitable for eliminatingboth types of cross-talk, the individual photodiodes are provided inseparate dies assembled mechanically within a same package. In thissolution, the photodiodes do not share their own substrate with theadjacent photodiodes, and a total insulation is obtained both from theoptical and the electrical standpoint. Also the latter solution has thedisadvantage of not enabling a high level of integration of thecomponents and has high production costs.

SUMMARY

An embodiment includes an array of avalanche photodiodes that enables areduction of the optical and electrical cross-talk together with a highlevel of integration on a same die.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the subject matter, embodiments thereofare now described, purely by way of non-limiting example and withreference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a first embodiment of an array ofphotodiodes;

FIGS. 2-9 are cross-sections of a photodiode belonging to the array ofFIG. 1 in successive manufacturing steps;

FIGS. 10-14 show cross-sections of variants of a photodiode belonging tothe array of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 shows an equivalent electrical representation of the array ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of an array of FIG. 1 during use;

FIG. 17 shows an application of the array of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 18 shows a system that uses the array of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an array 100 of Geiger photodiodes of aplanar type. In the figure, two photodiodes 1 are shown. The array 100may, however, comprise any number of photodiodes according to theapplication.

The array 100 is integrated in a chip 110 including an epitaxial layer 2of a P-type having a surface 2 a and overlying a substrate 3, of an Ntype, for example of a float-zone type. This type of substrate may becharacterized by a high level of purity, for reducing the presence ofsites where the avalanche-carrier generation in dark conditions occurs.

A deep lateral insulation region 10 having, for example, a circular orpolygonal shape, extends vertically through the epitaxial layer 2 andpart of the substrate 3 so as to delimit and insulate portions 2 b ofthe epitaxial layer, each forming an active region housing a singlephotodiode 1. In practice, each photodiode 1 is insulated from theadjacent photodiodes 1 by the lateral insulation region 10.

As is shown by the enlarged detail, the lateral insulation region 10comprises a channel-stopper region 11, of an N+ type for example dopedwith phosphorus, arranged externally and in direct contact with theepitaxial layer 2 and the substrate 3; a coating region 12, for exampleof oxide, extending inside the channel-stopper region 11; and a mirrorregion 13, for example of metal, for example tungsten, surrounded by thecoating region 12 and filling the lateral insulation region 10.

In practice, the channel-stopper region 11 forms, together with theepitaxial layer 2 and the substrate 3, a PN junction, which, on accountof the built-in field that is naturally set up at the junctioninterface, inhibits the passage of electrons between the active areas 2b of adjacent photodiodes 1. Furthermore, the P-N junction formed by theepitaxial layer 2 and the channel-stopper region 11 may bereverse-biased. In particular, the channel-stopper region 11, of N+type, may be biased at a voltage V₁ of, for example, 5 V, higher thanthe epitaxial layer 2, of N type, which may be grounded, as representedschematically in FIG. 1.

The coating region 12 has the function of improving the electricalinsulation between adjacent photodiodes, while the mirror region 13 hasthe function of inhibiting the passage of photons.

In order to improve the insulation, the coating region 12 may be formedby a double layer: a thinner outer coating layer 12 a, for example ofthermal oxide of a thickness of between approximately 100 and 200 nm,arranged more externally, and a thicker inner coating layer 12 b, forexample of TEOS oxide of a thickness of approximately between 100 and200 nm, arranged more internally.

In each active area 2 b, an anode region 14, of a closed, for examplecircular, shape and of a P+ type, faces the top surface 2 a. The anoderegion 14 is in direct electrical contact with an anode metal region 15and has the function of reducing the contact resistance and creating alow-resistance path for the reverse photodiode current. An enrichedregion 16 of a P type extends in the epitaxial layer 2, surrounded at adistance by the anode region 14. A bottom cathode region 17 a, of an N+type, extends in the epitaxial layer 2, on top of the enriched region16, and faces the surface 2 a. The bottom cathode region 17 a is incontact with a top cathode region 17 b, of polycrystalline silicon of anN+ type. The bottom cathode region 17 a and the top cathode region 17 bform a cathode 18.

A guard ring 19 of a closed, for example circular, shape and of anN-type extends in the epitaxial layer 2, on the outside of andcontiguous with the bottom cathode region 17 a but surrounded at adistance by the anode region 14. The guard ring 19, which faces thesurface 2 a, forms a PN diode with the epitaxial layer 2 so as toprevent edge breakdown of the enriched region 16.

The top cathode region 17 b may be non-planar and has a peripheral edge(approximately overlying the guard ring 19), which extends over aninsulation layer 20, for example of SOG (spun-on-glass) TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) oxide, which coats the entire active area 2 b except at aperipheral portion, where a cathode metal region 22 is in electricalcontact with the top cathode region 17 b, except for a peripheralportion, where the cathode metal region 22 is in electrical contact withthe top cathode region 17 b.

In a way not shown, the cathode metal region 22 is coupled to aquenching resistor, which can be made according to any known technique,for example, as a diffused resistor in the epitaxial layer, inside andoutside of the active area 2 b of the respective photodiode 1, or aspolysilicon resistor, arranged above the insulation layer 20.Alternatively, the quenching resistor can be made from the samepolycrystalline region forming the top cathode region 17 b or from apolycrystalline region directly in contact with the top cathode region17 b, as described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

The photodiode/of FIG. 1 thus enables the flow of charged particles andphotons generated by electroluminescence inside the epitaxial layer, toand from adjacent photodiodes 1, to be interrupted. In fact, the PNjunction formed by the channel-stopper region 11 and the epitaxial layer2 blocks the electrical charges, whereas the mirror region 13 blocks thephotons. The efficiency of blocking of the electrical particles isfurther improved by the presence of the coating region 12, as indicatedabove.

The photodiodes 1 of FIG. 1 are obtained using the process describedhereinafter and represented in FIGS. 2-9, only as regards half of thephotodiode 1, it being understood that the other half is formed in asimilar manner.

Initially (FIG. 2), an epitaxial layer 2 with a P-type doping is grownon a float-zone substrate 3, of an N type, to obtain a wafer 120. Forexample, the substrate 3 may have a thickness of approximately 500 μm,and the epitaxial layer 2 may have a thickness of approximately 10 μm.Then a mask layer 24, for example, of oxide with a thickness ofapproximately 500 nm, is first grown by thermal oxidation on theepitaxial layer 2 and then selectively removed where the anode region 14is to be provided. In order to prevent, during the doping process, metalimpurities from contaminating the epitaxial layer 2, a first protectivelayer 26, for example of oxide with a thickness of 50 nm, is grown onthe epitaxial layer 2. A high-energy implantation of dopant ion speciesof a P+ type (represented by the arrows 27) is then performed so as tolocalize the dopant agents, for example boron atoms, in the epitaxiallayer 2 underneath the first protective layer 26 to obtain the anoderegion 14, of a P+ type.

Then (FIG. 3), the mask layer 25 and the first protective layer 26 areremoved by chemical wet etching. Wet etching, as compared to dryetching, may better prevent possible damages to the crystal lattice ofthe epitaxial layer 2 and enable reduction of undesirable contaminatingparticles being introduced in the epitaxial layer 2. A bottom dielectriclayer 28, for example of oxide with a thickness comprised approximatelybetween 100 nm and 300 nm, for example approximately 200 nm, is grownthermally above the epitaxial layer 2 and then selectively removed bychemical wet etching so as to delimit an opening 24 having an area widerthan the area where the enriched region 16 is to be formed.

In FIG. 4, a second protective layer 29, for example of oxide with athickness of approximately 25 nm, is grown on the epitaxial layer 2.Then a first resist mask 30 is laid on the wafer 120 so as to defineprecisely the region where the enriched region 16 is to be obtained. Animplantation of dopant species of a P type (as indicated by the arrows31) is then performed so as to form the enriched region 16.

Then (FIG. 5), the first resist mask 30 is removed, and a second resistmask 33 is laid on the wafer 120 so as to expose the region where theguard ring 19 is to be obtained. An implantation of dopant species of anN-type (indicated in FIG. 5 by the arrows 32) is then performed.

Next, the second resist mask 33 and the second protective layer 29 areremoved, and a thermal annealing is performed, for example at thetemperature of approximately 1150° C. for two hours, so as to reduce thesites of the epitaxial layer 2 that have been damaged because of theprocesses of ion implantation and dopant species activation, thusforming the guard ring 19. This operation moreover enables a breakdownvoltage of the photodiode junction, for example, of approximately 25 Vto be obtained.

Then (FIG. 6), a polycrystalline-silicon layer, with an N+ doping, forexample with arsenic, and having a thickness, for example, comprisedbetween approximately 50 and 200 nm, for example 100 nm, is deposited onthe surface 2 a of the wafer 120 and shaped so as to form the topcathode region 17 b. In practice, the top cathode region 17 b covers theportion of epitaxial layer 2 surrounded by the bottom dielectric layer28 and the internal peripheral portion of the bottom dielectric layer28, but leaves the rest of the bottom dielectric layer 28, in particularabove the anode region 14, exposed.

Next (FIG. 7), intermediate dielectric layer 38, for example of TEOS, isdeposited by CVD on the surface of the wafer 120. The intermediatedielectric layer 38, which forms part of the insulating region 21 andpart of the insulation layer 20, is a passivating layer for the enrichedregion 16 and moreover has a protective function during the subsequentmanufacturing steps. Then, a rapid thermal annealing is performed, forexample, at approximately 1100° C., which causes the diffusion of dopantion species, for example arsenic atoms, from the top cathode region 17 bto the epitaxial layer 2, thereby forming the bottom cathode region 17a, of an N+ type. In this step, the intermediate dielectric layer 38 onthe top cathode region 17 b enables controlled diffusion of the dopantion species, during the thermal-annealing step, towards the underlyingepitaxial layer 2 and prevents its dispersion outside of the latter.

Next, the lateral insulation region 10 is provided. To this end, thewafer 120 is dry etched so as to form a trench 41, having, in top planview, for example a circular or quadrangular shape, of a width comprisedapproximately between 1 and 3 μm, for example, approximately 1 μm, and adepth comprised approximately between 5 and 15 μm, for example,approximately 10 μm.

Next (FIG. 8), a pre-deposition of POCl₃ is performed on the sides andon the bottom of the trench 41 so as to form, by diffusion of phosphorusin the wafer 120, the channel-stopper region 11. The channel-stopperregion 11 moreover forms a gettering layer for the impurities, inparticular transition metals that could be present as impurities in theenvironment and facilities used during the described fabricationprocesses.

Next, the thin coating layer 12 a is first grown on the internal edgesand on the bottom of the trench 41, and has a thickness comprisedbetween approximately 10 and 20 nm, for example approximately 15 nm;then, the thick coating layer 12 b, having a thickness comprised betweenapproximately 100 and 200 nm, for example approximately 100 nm, isdeposited, for example by CVD. The thin coating layer 12 a and the thickcoating layer 12 b form, has already mentioned, the coating region 12.The trench 41 is then filled with metal to form the mirror region 13,and the surface of the wafer 120 is coated with a top dielectric layer42, for example of SOG TEOS oxide, which forms, on the top cathoderegion 17 b, the insulating region 21 and elsewhere, with the bottomintermediate dielectric layers 28 and 38, the insulation layer 20.

Finally (FIG. 9), the bottom, intermediate, and top dielectric layers28, 38, and 42 are locally removed by chemical wet etching so as to formthe openings for the anode metal region 15 and the cathode metal region22. In particular, the anode and cathode metal regions 15, 22 may beobtained by sputtering deposition, definition, and low-temperaturesintering in a hydrogen atmosphere in order to passivate any possibledangling bonds at the interface between the oxide regions and thesilicon regions.

FIG. 10 shows a different embodiment in which, in order to preventfurther electrical cross-talk, a buried region 45, with a P+ doping, isprovided at the interface between the substrate 3 and the active area 2b. The buried region 45, which extends practically throughout theextension of the active area 2 b, may be provided via implantation ofdopant ion species of a P type in the substrate 3 before the growth ofthe epitaxial layer 2 and their activation and diffusion followinggrowth of the epitaxial layer 2. In addition, the anode region 14 ismade at a depth such as to extend as far as the buried layer 45 and bein direct electrical contact with the buried layer 45. This embodimentenables a further reduction in the adverse effect of electricalcross-talk in so far as the electrons, which are the most responsiblefor the electrical cross-talk, possess an extremely reduced lifetimewithin regions with P+ doping.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment wherein the guard ring 19 is not present.This embodiment may be suitable, for example, when no problems ofbreakdown exist and the area of the photodiodes/is to be minimized.

In FIG. 12, the enriched region 16 is, instead, absent. This embodimentmay be advantageous for obtaining low-noise devices.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment wherein the resistor for quenching andresetting the photodiode is provided in the same polycrystalline regionthat forms the top cathode region 17 b, contiguously thereto. In detail,after deposition of the layer of polycrystalline silicon of an N type,which is to form the top cathode region 17 b, a masked implantation ofdopant ion species, once again of an N type, is performed in thepolycrystalline-silicon layer and in particular in the central portionof the latter in direct contact with the bottom cathode region 17 a. Inthis way, the polycrystalline region here comprises a first portion,referred to as top cathode region 17 b′ of an N+ type, which extendsapproximately only above the epitaxial layer 2 and is surrounded by thebottom dielectric layer 28, and a second portion, which forms aquenching resistor 46, of an N type. The top cathode region 17 b′ hencehas a higher doping level than the quenching resistor 46.

In FIG. 14, a quenching resistor 47 is, instead, formed from anappropriate polycrystalline region of an N type extending on top of theperipheral portion of top cathode region 17 b and of the intermediatedielectric layer 38 and coupled in a way not illustrated to the cathodemetal region 22.

FIG. 15 is an equivalent electrical representation of the array 100 ofphotodiodes 1 arranged in parallel to one another in order to increasethe sensitivity. As may be noted, a quenching resistor 46, 47 is coupledin series to each photodiode 1, to the cathode contact 18 of thephotodiode 1. The cathode terminal 18 of each photodiode 1 is biased ata positive voltage V_(bias), for example of approximately 30 V, whilethe anode 14 of each photodiode 1 is grounded through a branchcomprising a resistor 150, for example, of approximately 50Ω.

FIG. 16 shows an array 100 of photodiodes/in use, wherein a light source200 illuminates a chip 120 on which the array 100 is integrated. In theembodiments shown, the photodiodes/form a matrix and are arranged inrows and columns.

An application of the array 100 of photodiodes 1 for obtaining images inthe medical sector is shown in FIG. 17, together with an enlarged detailof a detector block 300. Each detector block 300 is formed by an array100 of photodiodes 1. Here each photodiode 1 operates, independently ofthe other photodiodes 1, as detector of individual photons or packets ofphotons, generating an analog signal that is added to the signalgenerated by the other photodiodes 1 coupled in parallel, to produce anoutput signal S₁, S₂. In this way, each detector block 300 operates as asingle photodetector with high quantum efficiency. The signals S₁, S₂are then supplied to a coincidence processing unit 310, which yields theresults of the processing operation through a processor 320, whichenables display of the images detected on a display 330.

Finally, the array 100 of photodiodes/may be used in a generic system500 shown in FIG. 18, in which a power supply 510 supplies at least onearray 100 of photodiodes/and at least one microcontroller 520 coupled tothe array 100. The microcontroller 520 processes and supplies thedetected lighting information to a processor 320, which enables displayof the images detected on a display 330. In this way, it is possible toprovide, for example, a positron-emission tomography system.

Finally, it is evident that modifications and variations may be made tothe array of photodiodes described herein, without thereby departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the substrate 3 and the body 2 may be of an inverseconductivity type, and the position of the cathode region 18 and theanode region 14, as well as that of the respective electrodes, may bereversed. In addition, the insulation region 10 may also be providedbefore formation or in an intermediate step during formation of theregions 16, 17 a, 19 in the epitaxial layer 2.

The array 100 of photodiodes 1 may be used moreover in the field ofmolecular biology, as a light sensor in fluorescence microscopes usedfor detection of fluorescence or luminescence phenomena of extremely lowintensity.

Arrays 100 of photodiodes/may be used to provide sensors forphotographic cameras and/or camcorders, in particular for digitalcapturing of three-dimensional images in conditions of poor lighting.

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a personskilled in the art may apply to the solution described above manymodifications and alterations. Particularly, although the presentdisclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularitywith reference to described embodiment(s) thereof, it should beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the formand details as well as other embodiments are possible. Moreover, it isexpressly intended that specific elements and/or method steps describedin connection with any disclosed embodiment may be incorporated in anyother embodiment as a general matter of design choice.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An array of Geiger-mode avalanchephotodiodes, wherein each photodiode comprises: formation in a body ofsemiconductor material of a first conductivity type having a surface; afirst cathode region, of the second conductivity type, extending insidesaid body and facing said surface; an anode region having the firstconductivity type and a higher doping level than said body, extendinginside said body, and facing said surface laterally to the first cathoderegion at a distance therefrom; and an insulation region extendingthrough said body and insulating an active area from the rest of saidbody, the active area housing the cathode region and the anode region,said insulation region comprising a mirror region made of metalmaterial, wherein said insulation region comprises a channel-stopperregion of said second conductivity type surrounding said mirror regionand contiguous with the body.
 2. The array according to claim 1, whereinsaid insulation region further comprises a coating region of dielectricmaterial, arranged between said mirror region and said channel-stopperregion.
 3. The array according to claim 1, wherein said channel-stopperregion and said active area are coupled to biasing means for generatinga potential difference between the channel-stopper region and the activearea.
 4. The array according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate,having the second conductivity type, and extending underneath andadjacent to said body and in contact with said channel-stopper region.5. The array according to claim 4, wherein a buried region, having thefirst conductivity type and a higher doping level than said body,extends at an interface between said substrate and said body, said anoderegion extending as far as and being in direct contact with said buriedregion.
 6. The array according to claim 1, further comprising apolycrystalline region, having the second conductivity type andextending on top of said surface, said polycrystalline region comprisinga first portion extending on top of and in contact with the firstcathode region.
 7. The array according to claim 6, wherein thepolycrystalline region further comprises a second portion, arrangedperipherally with respect to said first portion and extending on top ofa first dielectric layer overlying said surface and having an opening ontop of said first cathode region.
 8. An array of Geiger-mode avalanchephotodiodes, wherein each photodiode comprises: formation in a body ofsemiconductor material of a first conductivity type having a surface; afirst cathode region, of the second conductivity type, extending insidesaid body and facing said surface; an anode region having the firstconductivity type and a higher doping level than said body, extendinginside said body, and facing said surface laterally to the first cathoderegion at a distance therefrom; an insulation region extending throughsaid body and insulating an active area from the rest of said body, theactive area housing the cathode region and the anode region, saidinsulation region comprising a mirror region made of metal material; anda polycrystalline region, having the second conductivity type andextending on top of said surface, said polycrystalline region comprisinga first portion extending on top of and in contact with the firstcathode region; wherein the polycrystalline region further comprises asecond portion, arranged peripherally with respect to said first portionand extending on top of a first dielectric layer overlying said surfaceand having an opening on top of said first cathode region; and whereinsaid insulation region comprises a channel-stopper region of said secondconductivity type surrounding said mirror region; and wherein the firstportion of the polycrystalline region forms a second cathode region andsaid second portion of said polycrystalline region forms a resistiveregion having a higher resistivity than said second cathode region. 9.An array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, wherein each photodiodecomprises: formation in a body of semiconductor material of a firstconductivity type having a surface; a first cathode region, of thesecond conductivity type, extending inside said body and facing saidsurface; an anode region having the first conductivity type and a higherdoping level than said body, extending inside said body, and facing saidsurface laterally to the first cathode region at a distance therefrom;an insulation region extending through said body and insulating anactive area from the rest of said body, the active area housing thecathode region and the anode region, said insulation region comprising amirror region made of metal material; and a polycrystalline region,having the second conductivity type and extending on top of saidsurface, said polycrystalline region comprising a first portionextending on top of and in contact with the first cathode region;wherein the polycrystalline region further comprises a second portion,arranged peripherally with respect to said first portion and extendingon top of a first dielectric layer overlying said surface and having anopening on top of said first cathode region; and wherein said insulationregion comprises a channel-stopper region of said second conductivitytype surrounding said mirror region; and wherein said first and secondportions of the polycrystalline region have the same conductivity leveland wherein each photodiode further comprises a resistive region havinga higher resistivity than the polycrystalline region and extending oversaid polycrystalline region, and a second dielectric layer overlyingsaid first dielectric layer, said resistive region being in electricalcontact with the polycrystalline region.
 10. The array according toclaim 9, wherein the resistive region is of polysilicon having thesecond conductivity type.
 11. The array according to claim 1, wherein anenrichment region having the first conductivity type and a higher dopinglevel than said active area extends within said active area underneathand in contact with the first cathode region.
 12. The array according toclaim 1, wherein a guard-ring region having the second conductivity typeand a lower doping level than said first cathode region extends withinsaid active area facing the surface underneath and in contact with saidfirst cathode region.
 13. The array according to claim 1, wherein saidanode region surrounds said first cathode region.
 14. A process formanufacturing an array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, comprising:forming a body of semiconductor material having a first conductivitytype and a surface; forming, inside said body and facing said surface, afirst cathode region having the second conductivity type; forming insidesaid body and facing said surface, an anode region having the firstconductivity type having a higher doping level than said body, saidanode region extending laterally and at a distance from said firstcathode region; and forming, inside said body, an insulation regioncomprising a mirror region of metal material, said insulation regionextending through said body and surrounding an active area from the restof the body, the active area housing the first cathode region and theanode region, wherein forming said insulation region further comprisesintroducing dopant species of said second conductivity type around themirror region so as to form a channel-stopper region surrounding saidmirror region and contiguous with the body.
 15. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the step of forming said insulation region comprises:forming a trench extending within the body; introducing said dopantspecies along walls of said trench so as to form the channel-stopperregion; forming a coating region of dielectric material in contact withsaid channel-stopper region; and filling said trench with metal materialso as to form said mirror region.
 16. The method according to claim 14,wherein the step of forming the channel-stopper region comprisesdepositing a dopant layer along the walls of said trench; and causingthe dopant species of said second conductivity type to penetrate intothe body.
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said dopant is aPOCl₃ layer and the mirror region is of a material chosen from amongaluminium, titanium, and tungsten.
 18. The method according to claim 14,comprising the steps of forming a first dielectric layer on said surfaceof said body so as to cover a portion of said active area and delimit anopening overlying said active area; forming a polycrystalline regionextending at least within said opening and transferring dopant ionspecies from the polycrystalline region to the active area so as to formsaid first cathode region underneath said opening.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein forming said polycrystalline regioncomprises the steps of depositing a polysilicon layer having the secondconductivity type; shaping said polysilicon layer so as to form a firstportion within said opening and a second portion on said firstdielectric layer; and introducing dopant ion species of the secondconductivity type in the first portion so that the second portion has ahigher resistivity than the first portion.
 20. The method according toclaim 18, comprising forming a second dielectric layer on said firstdielectric layer and on said polycrystalline region; and then forming aresistive region on top of said first dielectric layer and said seconddielectric layer and in electrical contact with said polycrystallinelayer.
 21. The method according to claim 14, comprising introducingdopant ion species of the first conductivity type into said active areaunderneath the first cathode region so as to form an enrichment regionunderneath and in direct contact with the first cathode region, saidenrichment region having the first conductivity type and a higher dopinglevel than said active area.
 22. The method according to claim 14,comprising the step of introducing dopant ion species of the secondconductivity type into said active area so as to form a guard regionfacing said surface laterally to and in direct contact with said firstcathode region, said guard region having a lower doping level than saidfirst cathode region.
 23. The method according to claim 14, whereinforming a body comprises forming a buried region on top of a substrateof said second conductivity type, said buried region having the firstconductivity type and a higher doping level than said body; growing anepitaxial layer of said first conductivity type on top of said substrateand said buried region; and introducing dopant elements of the firstconductivity type into said active area so that said anode region is incontact with said buried region.
 24. An array of avalanche photo diodes,comprising: a semiconductor material having a surface; at least oneanode disposed in the semiconductor material adjacent to the surface; atleast one cathode having a first portion disposed in the semiconductormaterial adjacent to the surface and remote from the at least one anode;at least one body having a same conductivity as the at least one anodeand disposed in the semiconductor material between the at least oneanode and the at least on cathode; and at least one isolator having atleast a portion with the same conductivity as the at least one anode anddisposed in the semiconductor material around the at least one cathodeand the at least one anode.
 25. The array of avalanche photo diodes ofclaim 24 wherein: the semiconductor material comprises a substrate andan epitaxial layer having the surface and being contiguous with thesubstrate; the at least one anode, the at least one cathode, and the atleast one body are disposed in the epitaxial layer; and the at least oneisolator is disposed in the substrate and in the epitaxial layer. 26.The array avalanche photo diodes of claim 24 wherein the at least onecathode comprises a second portion disposed over the first portion ofthe at least one cathode and over the surface of the semiconductormaterial.
 27. The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24 whereinthe at least one anode is more highly doped than the at least one body.28. The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24 wherein the at leastone isolator comprises: an outer region disposed in the at least onebody and having a conductivity opposite to the conductivity of the atleast one body; an insulator disposed inward of the outer region; and areflector disposed inward of the insulator.
 29. The array of avalanchephoto diodes of claim 24 wherein the at least one isolator comprises: anouter region disposed in the at least one body and having a conductivityopposite to the conductivity of the at least one body; a first insulatordisposed inward of the outer region; a second insulator disposed inwardof the first insulator; and a reflector disposed inward of the secondinsulator.
 30. The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24 wherein:the semiconductor material comprises a substrate having a conductivityopposite to the conductivity of the at least one anode and having anepitaxial layer that has the surface, that has a same conductivity asthe at least one anode, and that is contiguous with the substrate; andthe isolator comprises an outer region disposed in the epitaxial layerand having a conductivity opposite to the conductivity of the epitaxiallayer, an insulator disposed inward of the outer region, and a reflectordisposed inward of the insulator.
 31. The array of avalanche photodiodes of claim 24, further comprising at least one guard regiondisposed in the semiconductor material around and contiguous with the atleast one cathode and having a same conductivity as the at least onecathode.
 32. The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24, furthercomprising an enriched region disposed in the at least one body, havinga same conductivity as and a higher doping concentration than the atleast one body, and being contiguous with the at least one cathode. 33.The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24, further comprising aburied region disposed in the at least one body, having a sameconductivity and approximately the same doping concentration as the atleast one anode, and being contiguous with the at least one anode. 34.The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24, further comprising:wherein the at least one cathode comprises a second portion disposedover the first portion of the cathode and over the surface of thesemiconductor material; and a resistor disposed over the semiconductormaterial and contiguous with the second portion of the at least onecathode.
 35. The array of avalanche photo diodes of claim 24, furthercomprising: wherein the at least one cathode comprises a second portiondisposed over the first portion of the at least one cathode and over thesurface of the semiconductor material; and a resistor disposed over andcontiguous with the second portion of the at least one cathode.